Brighton's Kevin McGowan named top national superintendent

Brighton School Superintendent Kevin McGowan was named the national superintendent of the year by AASA, the national school superintendents' association, it was announced Thursday.

"Superintendent Kevin McGowan exemplifies a leader who is excelling on the job on behalf of the learning community he serves," the organization's executive director, Dan Domenech, said in a statement.

McGowan became superintendent in Brighton in 2009 at the age of 34 and now is the longest-tenured school leader in the county. Brighton students consistently rank among the state's highest achieving.

For many years he was the most prominent local advocate for changes to the state funding formula, including the elimination of the gap elimination adjustment.

More recently he has been outspoken about the need for anti-racist and diverse education, fending off challenges to school curriculum and initiating (unsuccessful) termination proceedings against a Brighton High School teacher who used a racial slur in the classroom.

McGowan had an unpleasant turn in the national spotlight in December 2021 after he defended a teacher who stopped singing "Jingle Bells" in the classroom over concerns about its possible racist origins. Hate mail poured into the district, most of it addressed to McGowan directly; he dismissed it as tempest in a teapot and said he stood by the teacher.

He previously had been named one of four finalists for the national award.

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“The work that’s happening in our district for children is approaching a place where people are noticing the gaps we’ve closed for children, the work that’s gone into that and the leadership that’s been provided to support each child and each family," McGowan said in a statement upon being named a finalist. "This is really such a recognition of that work."

The award comes with a $10,000 student scholarship in the winner's name; McGowan said it will go to a Brighton High School student.

Contact staff writer Justin Murphy at jmurphy7@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Brighton NY Kevin McGowan named top national superintendent